Redefine Work

We already know how to navigate change in our careers. Now, many of us are looking to tap into change of a different sort, one that matches an underlying shift in our priorities and values.

By the time we reach our 40's, most of us know that change is a constant when it comes to our work lives. Whether we choose it or it chooses us, we’ve been around long enough to have lived through a number of career shifts.

Over the last couple of decades in my own career, I’ve navigated three major and many more minor work transitions. That path has taken me from the creative to the business side of the media industry (and back again), from entertainment media to the consumer software industry (and back again), through all sizes and shapes of organizations (from a tiny, early stage start-up to a multi-national corporation and every other size in-between), and into a totally new field (one that continues to evolve).

This time around, though, my latest shift feels different. At this stage of my life, I’ve realized that what I want from work has another dimension to it.

What is it that’s so different? For me, it boils down to a transition from proving myself to others, to making good on promises I’ve made to myself. What I want now is work that's more holistically and authentically connected with my life, work that realizes my unique skills, talents and experience, work that is of service to others.

And I’m not alone. So many women I talk to - friends, colleagues, neighbors - echo that sentiment in our conversations.

Of course, we also need to pay attention to the practical aspects of our work lives. We still need to earn enough money to keep a roof over our heads and pay the bills (and for some of us, also finance our kids’ college years and perhaps help pay for our aging parents’ care). But if we’re lucky, we are ready and able to add a layer of deeper meaning and personal fulfillment to the work we do.

At WHAT NOW WHAT NEXT we focus our lens on that aspect of the work/life shift. Many of the women we talk to are actively searching for ‘what’s next?’ in their work lives. We're here to help them answer that question and realize the unique value they can bring to the world.

There are as many different ways to define what’s next in work as there are women. And our Member Network highlights that diversity and range of experience. Whether you are re-entering the workforce after years focused on raising children or you’re a corporate executive with decades of experience under your belt, we have the content, resources and collaborative network you’ll need as you contemplate how best to navigate the next phase of your work life.